Page 61 of Fractured

She must have been tapping a pen on a desk or some type of surface, because a quicktap, tap, taptook over the line. Then it suddenly stopped. “I was notified by Mrs. Daniels that Drake Daniels is in the hospital. He overdosed, and it’s unclear if this was an attempt at suicide or an accident—”

Why would he do that? He’d seemed upset by what happened to his little brother, as he should be, but he’d seemed strong. Put together. The complete opposite of me most of the time. “I still don’t understand why you’re calling me.”

“Mrs. Daniels searched his home after he was taken to the hospital and found a journal… She believes this was an attempt at suicide.” She waited for that to sink in.

And it did. Hard.

“He did mention that he thought you could bring some closure. Especially on the motive of why your mother did what she did. Her call to me was to place an additional request with you to go see him. She thinks it would help him, maybe even prevent him from doing this again.”

What she didn’t say was as clear as if she’d written it on a sheet of paper.

Mrs. Daniels had already lost one child in a tragically unnecessary way, and she shouldn’t have to lose another in a similarly tragic death. Especially if she could do something about it.

“You’re asking me to go see him?” I wasn’t sure how I felt. This was all a bit surreal, and I struggled so much with myself, how could I truly help someone else?

“No,” Autumn said firmly. “That’s not what I’m asking you to do. It’s unfair of Mrs. Daniels to place that weight on you. Still, I wanted to let you know, in case you were thinking about speaking with him. Based on what she said, it wasn’t clear if you’d met with him or not.”

“I haven’t, not really,” I repeated because there was nothing else to say.

She hesitated. “If you want to see him. He’s at the hospital off Highway 62, room 403. But this is not me suggesting or even asking you to. Mrs. Daniels is placing a lot of pressure on you in hopes he gets better quicker, but that’s not fair of her. However, you’re free to make your own decisions.”

“Thank you,” I said in a low voice as Ambrose took my free hand between both of his.

“You’re welcome. And if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I know how much stress this must be placing on you. But let me make one thing clear—you owe them nothing. Okay, Lilith? You were not the one who wronged them.” If she were in front of me, I imagined she’d be shaking her finger at me.

“I know that. Have a good evening.” I hung up and dropped the phone in my lap.

“Is everything okay?” Atticus rubbed soothing circles on my back.

“I—No.” I hadn’t mentioned Drake to them. Or any of the specifics. There just hadn’t been enough time, and that whole conversation was something best done in phases.

“Better yet, I’d like to know who this ‘him’ is that you might go see.” Ambrose raised his brows as he pinned me in place with an unusually jealous expression. Ambrose had been one of the first ones to try this type of poly relationship, so why would he be jealous? It was a little disconcerting to see him like this.

Should I tell them?

Hold onto some of my secrets for just a little while longer?

No, I’d done enough hiding. If I could help it, I wanted to do things right with them.

“My mother is committed to a psych ward for murder. Of a child.”

A thunderous expression clouded Ambrose’s face as Atticus made a disgusted noise and shook his head at the reminder. “We know,” Ambrose growled.

“She’s pure evil, right?” I asked with a huff.

“No. Not evil.” Atticus moved to sit on his knees, so he was closer to my eye level. “A child’s death is a horrible injustice, especially at the hands of another, but someone suffering from mental illness is not evil.”

I nodded, choosing not to acknowledge that particular comment. We’d probably always see things differently in that regard. “Well, what I didn’t tell you is that the little boy has an older brother. I don’t know how I never really knew of him. I guess I did, in the back of my head, but I never interacted with him and he wasn’t home that I can remember.” I looked between them, trying to decide how I wanted to tell them. “He asked to speak with me. He thinks it will do us both good…but I never took him up on the offer. And that was my mother’s old attorney. She was the one that originally told me he wanted to meet…”

“And?” Ambrose prompted.

“And she was calling to let me know he’s in the hospital. An overdose that is a suspected suicide attempt.” I braced, waiting for their outburst. Not that I thought they’d be angry with me, but this type of news…a person just never knew how others would react.

And I was heartbroken for Drake.

Even with all of my issues and belief that there was no hope for me, I’d never once thought about taking my own life. Maybe that would change if I committed some unforgivable act, because at that point, how could I not hate myself? I doubted I’d even be able to look myself in the mirror.

But until then? I wanted to live.

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